Christiansburg High School has a new boys soccer coach. This past week, Joel Bates was announced to take over a program that is coming off a Class 3 state championship this past Spring.
Bates is no stranger to the soccer program as he has served as the head junior varsity coach for two years and was an assistant for varsity this past season. He had also previously served as the Christiansburg Soccer Club Boys Academy Coach and Academy Director.
Bates, who is a counselor at the school, said he applied for the opening because he loves soccer, enjoys coaching and wants to continue to build on the success of the Christiansburg High School soccer program.
“I’m truly excited about the opportunity to lead the team and I am thankful for the role that the coaches I have worked with have played in helping me grow and in helping build CHS Soccer into the high-level program that it is today. We have extremely talented and exciting players, as well as dedicated fans that make CHS soccer a joy to be a part of, so it’s hard to find a better job out there,” he said.
Bates replaces Adam Pickeral who stepped down earlier this year. His departure came shortly after he led the Blue Demons to the 2026 Class 3 state championship, securing the boys’ soccer state title in the school’s history. He was also named the Virginia High School League’s Class 3 Coach of the Year. He guided the Blue Demons to a 17-5-1 record and the program’s first state championship with a 4-2 win over Brentsville District in the Class 3 finals.
Bates said over the past nine seasons, he had the privilege of watching Christiansburg soccer grow into a force in the district, region and state, culminating with the school’s first ever state title last season. “I hope to continue this tradition of regular and postseason success, but more importantly, I hope to help our players grow into better students, better athletes, and better humans,” he said.
